What’s the story behind China’s ‘puppy mountain’? Here’s why tourists are flocking to see it

Nature has a humorous approach of taking part in tips on our eyes. Sometimes, a cloud seems to be like a dragon, a rock formation resembles a face, or on this case—a mountain takes the form of a pet bowed to drink water. Nestled by the Yangtze River in Yichang’s Zigui County, Hubei Province, a mountain has turn into an surprising vacationer hotspot after a viral picture showcased its uncanny resemblance to a curled-up canine. Now, guests are flocking to see in the event that they, too, can spot the snoozing pup hidden in the panorama.
Shanghai-based designer Guo Qingshan had no thought his snapshot would spark such a buzz when he shared it on Valentine’s Day, dubbing the panorama “Puppy Mountain.”Guo, who had been climbing close to his hometown in late January, solely noticed the uncommon form of the mountain when wanting again at his images. To his shock, the formation regarded strikingly like a canine resting on the floor, its snout nearly touching the Yangtze River as if it have been about to take a drink.
“It was so magical and cute. I was so excited and happy when I discovered it,” Guo informed the Associated Press(AP). The picture captured individuals’s imaginations, with some seeing the mountain as a peaceable guardian of the river, whereas others thought it resembled a pet gazing curiously at the water.

The publish, initially shared on Xiaohongshu (RedNote), shortly gained traction, amassing 120,000 likes in simply 10 days. The development unfold to Weibo, the place the hashtag #xiaogoushan (which interprets to “Puppy Mountain“) racked up thousands and thousands of views.
As pleasure grew, social media customers started posting images of their very own canine to evaluate them to the mountain’s form. The buzz even prompted individuals to go to Yichang’s Zigui County, the place the mountain is seen from an area commentary deck. Some guests even introduced their canine alongside for photos, making for an lovely side-by-side comparability.
AP reported, one customer, Yang Yang, traveled over an hour and a half with mates and her 2-year-old gray poodle, Yang Keyi, simply to see the landmark in particular person. “I was really happy to see the mountain,” she mentioned, including that the journey was additional particular as a result of she loves touring along with her canine.
The Yangtze River, which runs by the area, is China’s longest river and the third-longest in the world. Interestingly, Guo’s discovery led many individuals to revisit their outdated images. Several Yichang locals realized that they had unknowingly captured the mountain earlier than, however by no means observed its distinctive form.
One resident, Shi Tong, acknowledged the location instantly. “After I saw the Puppy Mountain photo online, I tried to figure out where it was. Then I realized I had actually been there before. I thought it looked like a dog back then too!” he shared.